Spectacular Homophobia*
September 4th, 2010 § 4 Comments
Homophobic acts in Africa have become spectacles. So much so that we might need to start a new category of tourism: Homophobe Tourism.
“Come to Uganda, watch Martin Ssempa talk about “poo-poo!”
Come to Nigeria, watch the legislature restrict touching!
Come to Malawi, watch the judge sentence the gay and the transgender!
Come to Egypt, watch another gay man be tortured and killed!
Come to South Africa, watch a lesbian being corrected through rape!
Come one, come all!
Outrage about these and other acts flows from the pens of western allies and African activists. Homophobia as spectacle has become the “new normal.” If you want to locate a homophobic act, follow the sirens: they will be ringing loudly and clearly.
*introduction to a conference paper
[...] Africa needs a new category of tourism: Homophobe Tourism. “Come to Uganda, watch Martin Ssempa talk about “poo-poo!” Come to Nigeria, watch the legislature restrict touching! Come to Malawi, watch the judge sentence the gay and the transgender!” [...]
Africa needs a new spectacular queer pride. Love, boldness, blogs, anywhere we can claim our space and use it to our own benefit.
Kenne,
We need new spectacular spectacles, for sure. I remain spectacularly ambivalent.
K.
Haha! “spectacularly ambivalent”!!